Processing high definition video data

ABSTRACT

Video data is processed. A first high definition program stream is received that includes a first high definition video stream component. A first standard definition program stream is derived from the high definition program stream. A second standard definition is received having been derived from the first standard definition program stream. A second high definition program stream is derived from the second standard definition program stream and the first high definition video stream component.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/431,405, filed Dec. 6, 2002,entitled “Method And System For Allowing A Standard Digital Video DiscPlayer To Play High Definition Digital Video Discs,” the entiredisclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to processing high definition digital videoinformation. In particular, one aspect of the invention relates to aHigh-Definition Digital Video Disc (“HD-DVD”) Coprocessor for use with astandard definition DVD player architecture to play HD-DVD discs andproduce a High Definition video output.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Digital video discs (“DVDs”) provide significant improvements over priortechnologies such as video cassette tapes. Some of these improvementsinclude enhanced images, digital audio, and the addition of menus forfacilitating rapid navigation from scene to scene.

To enhance the quality of films viewed on DVD, the industry hasdeveloped a high-definition video compression format, H.264/MPEG-4. TheH.264/MPEG-4 format has an increased resolution of up to 1920×1080pixels at 30 frames per second and provides a higher resolution videoimage. However, currently available consumer DVD player architecturesare unable to process the higher resolution video stream withoutsignificant changes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention relates to processing high definition digitalvideo.

In one or more aspects of the invention, a high definition video signalis processed. The method includes receiving a first high definitionprogram stream that includes a first high definition video streamcomponent. A first standard definition program stream is derived fromthe high definition program stream, which in some embodiments lacks ahigh definition video stream component. A second standard definitionprogram stream is received, the second standard definition programstream being derived from the first standard definition program stream.In some embodiments, the second standard definition program streamincludes a standard definition video stream, which in some embodimentsmay be generated. In some embodiments, the generated standard definitionvideo stream may be a blue screen video stream. A second high definitionprogram stream is derived from the second standard definition programstream and the first high definition video stream component. In someembodiments, the generated standard definition video stream is scaled toa resolution compatible with the first high definition video streamcomponent. In some embodiments, the scaled standard definition videostream is replaced by the first high definition video stream.

In one or more aspects of the invention, a high definition digital videosignal is produced. The method includes demuxing a high definitionprogram stream into at least one high definition video data streamcomponent and a plurality of companion component data streams, which insome embodiments includes an audio data stream, subpicture information,and navigational information. The demuxed component data streams arethen muxed with a standard resolution video stream, which in oneexemplary embodiment is a generated blue screen video elementary stream,to create a standard definition video program stream. The muxed standarddefinition video program stream is then demuxed into a standarddefinition video data stream and a subpicture data stream. Theresolution of the demuxed standard definition video data stream is thenscaled up to a resolution consistent with the high definition video datastream component previously extracted from the high definition programstream. The demuxed subpicture data stream is overlaid with the scaledup standard definition video stream, and the standard definition videostream is then replaced with the at least one high definition video datastream.

In some embodiments the high definition program stream is received froman external source, and in some embodiments is in an encrypted formatand is decrypted prior to being demuxed. In some embodiments, the atleast one high definition video data stream component is in a compressedformat, and is decompressed prior to replacing the standard definitionvideo stream.

In one or more aspects of the invention, an apparatus is used forproducing a high definition video signal. The apparatus includes a highdefinition program stream demuxer for extracting a plurality ofcomponent data streams from a high definition program stream. Theplurality of component data streams comprises at least one highdefinition video data stream and a set of other component data streams.The apparatus further includes a generator for generating a standarddefinition video stream, a muxer for combining the generated standarddefinition video stream with the set of other component data streamsinto a standard definition program stream, a video scaler for increasingthe resolution of the standard definition video stream to a resolutionconsistent with the high definition video stream, a video mixer forreplacing the scaled up standard definition video stream with the highdefinition video data stream, and an encrypter for creating a highdefinition video data signal from the high definition video data streamand the set of other component data streams.

In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a receiver for receivinga program data stream. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include arouter for determining if the received program data stream is a highdefinition program stream. In some embodiments, the received programdata stream may be encrypted, and in such embodiments the apparatus mayfurther include a decrypter for decrypting the encrypted program datastream.

One or more aspects of the invention may provide one or more of thefollowing features. A pre-existing digital video disc player circuitryarchitecture can be modified in a practical way such that resultingenhanced players can play both standard definition and high definitiondigital video discs, and produce high definition video from highdefinition digital video discs. Existing functionality of thepre-existing digital video disc player circuitry architecture, such asnavigation control, audio support, and subpicture support can beleveraged while adding the capability of producing high definitionvideo, thus avoiding excessive complexity and cost conventionallyassociated with producing an enhance player.

While particularly useful for digital video discs, these methods andtools are not limited to that specific application, and can be used inother applications where digital video data is processed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the sameparts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed uponillustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a standard definition DVD player.

FIG. 2 is block diagram of a DVD Player Chip from a standard definitionDVD player.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a standard definition DVD playerwith a high definition DVD co-processor chip.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of the DVD co-processor of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of producing highdefinition video.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, commonly available consumer DVD players (SD-DVDplayers) accept Standard Definition DVD's (102) that produce a videosignal with a resolution of 720×480 pixels at 30 frames per second.SD-DVD players contain a DVD Front-End chip (104) and a StandardDefinition DVD Player chip (“SD DVD Player chip”) (108). The DVDFront-End chip controls a drive, a laser, and reads data in the form ofa standard definition program stream (106) from the DVD. The SD DVDPlayer chip (108) controls the Front-End chip (104), and managesdecrypting and decompressing the standard definition program stream(106), and sends them to the appropriate video and audio components of avideo display system.

Standard definition video program streams are encrypted using theContent Scrambling System, (“CSS”), and the decryption technique isreferred to as “DeCSS.” Video decompression of a standard definitionvideo program stream includes using the MPEG-2 video compressionstandard to decompress the video component of the program stream, theand Dolby Digital 5.1 standard for the audio component of the programstream.

Referring to FIG. 2, the SD DVD Player chip (108) includes a decryptiondevice (202) for decrypting the program stream (106), and a programstream demux device (204) which separates the program stream (106) intoits four components. The four components include: a compressed videostream in “standard definition” DVD format; a compressed audio stream; acompressed subpicture stream for menus, sub-titles, and otherinteractive features of the DVD; and a stream of navigationalinformation. In some embodiments, the demuxing device can be a softwareprogram running on an embedded microprocessor, or in some embodimentsreside on a dedicated piece of hardware.

The compressed video stream is sent to a video decompression device(206), the subpicture stream is sent to a subpicture decoding device(208), the compressed audio stream is sent to an audio decompressiondevice (210), and the navigation information is sent to a System ControlProcessor (216). In some embodiments, the video decompression device canbe a piece of dedicated hardware, and the audio decompression device canbe an embedded digital signal processor. In some embodiments, thesubpicture decoding device can run on an embedded microprocessor such asthe System Control Processor (216). The decompressed video and decodedsubpicture streams are then mixed at a video mixer (212) and sent to astandard definition television for viewing. The decompressed audiostream is sent to an audio receiver for playback.

Referring to FIG. 3, in accordance with the invention, a High DefinitionCoprocessor (304) is provided. The High Definition Coprocessor (304) canbe added to an existing SD DVD player architecture such that theresulting enhanced SD DVD player is able to produce both a standarddefinition DVD signal from a standard definition DVD and a highdefinition DVD signal (302) from a high definition DVDs (102), whileavoiding excessive changes to the SD DVD player architecture.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when a DVD is placed in a DVD player thatincludes a HD DVD Coprocessor (304) (step 5010), the HD DVD Coprocessor(304) detects whether the program stream (302) is high definition orstandard definition (e.g., from a high definition DVD or standarddefinition DVD, respectively) via a new Program Stream Descriptor (steps5020-5040). If the program stream is a standard definition programstream, a program stream router (402) directs the signal to a standarddefinition program stream selector (408) that subsequently sends thestandard definition program stream to the Standard Definition DVD Playerchip (step 5050).

If the program stream is a high definition program stream, the programstream router (402) directs the high definition program stream (404) toa high definition decryption device (410) (step 5070) and a highdefinition program stream demuxer (412) (step 5080). Using the methodsdescribed above, the demuxer (412) breaks the program stream into itsfour components: HD video (414), audio (416), subpicture (418), andnavigation information (417). The HD video stream (414) is sent to a HDVideo Decompression device (426) where it is decompressed and forwardedto a Video Mixer (432) (step 5100), which in some embodiments is adedicated piece of hardware using video compression standards well knowin the industry such as MPEG-4 Part 10 or Microsoft Windows Media Video9.

In a specific example implementation, the audio stream (416), subpicturestream (418) and navigation information stream (417) are remuxed by astandard definition remuxer (422) together with a compressed blue screenvideo stream in standard resolution video format (step 5090) generatedby a blue screen generator (420) (step 5110). This remuxed standarddefinition program stream (424) is sent to the Standard Definition DVDPlayer chip (108) (step 5050).

The Standard Definition DVD Player chip (108) demuxes and decompressesthe standard definition program stream using similar methods and devicesdescribed above (step 5060). The decompressed standard definition videostream (428) is overlaid with the decompressed standard definitionsubpicture stream and sent back to the HD DVD Coprocessor (304) where aVideo Scaler (430) produces a scaled up digital video stream (432)having the higher resolution required for HD DVD (Step 5120). Forexample, a dedicated piece of hardware may be used to implement a set ofseparable horizontal and vertical polyphase filters.

The decompressed high definition video stream produced by the HD DVDcoprocessor (304) is forwarded to a Video Mixer (434). The scaled up thestandard digital video stream (432) is mixed with the decompressed HDvideo stream at the Video Mixer (434). This process is accomplished byreplacing only the blue screen pixels added by the Standard DefinitionBlue-Screen Video Generator (420) (step 5130) prior to being sent to theDVD Player chip (108) with the HD video signal (414) that wasdecompressed at the HD Video Decompressor (426). The resulting HD videodata (438) is then output to a commercially available television orother suitable recipient (step 5140).

Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what isdescribed herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention asclaimed. Accordingly, the invention is to be defined not by thepreceding illustrative description but instead by the spirit and scopeof the following claims.

1. A method for producing a high definition video signal comprising:performing by at least one circuit: demuxing a high definition programstream into at least one high definition video data stream component anda plurality of companion component data streams; muxing the plurality ofcompanion component data streams with a standard resolution video streaminto a standard definition video program stream; demuxing the standarddefinition program stream into a standard definition video data stream,and a subpicture data stream; scaling the standard definition videostream to a resolution consistent with the high definition video datastream; overlaying the scaled standard definition video stream with thedemuxed subpicture data stream; and replacing the standard definitionvideo stream with the at least one high definition video data stream toproduce a high definition video data signal.
 2. The method of claim 1further including, prior demuxing the high definition program stream,receiving a program data stream.
 3. The method of claim 2 furtherincluding determining if the received program data stream is a highdefinition program data stream.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein theplurality of companion component data streams comprises one or more ofaudio data stream, a subpicture data stream, and a navigational datastream.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the high definition programstream is in encrypted format.
 6. The method of claim 5 furthercomprising, prior to demuxing the high definition program stream,decrypting the encrypted high definition program stream.
 7. The methodof claim 1 wherein the at least one high definition video data streamcomponent is in compressed format.
 8. The method of claim 7 furthercomprising, prior to the replacing step, decompressing the highdefinition video data stream.
 9. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising generating the standard resolution video stream.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the generated standard resolution video streamcomprises a blue screen video elementary stream.
 11. An apparatus foruse in producing a high definition video data signal, comprising: a highdefinition program stream demuxer for extracting a plurality ofcomponent data streams from a high definition program stream, theplurality of component data streams comprising at least one highdefinition video data stream and a set of other component data streams;a generator for generating a standard definition video stream; a muxerfor combining the generated standard definition video stream with theset of other component data streams into a standard definition programstream; a video scaler for increasing the resolution of the standarddefinition video stream to a resolution consistent with the highdefinition video stream; a video mixer for replacing the scaled upstandard definition video stream with the high definition video datastream; and an encrypter for creating a high definition video datasignal from the high definition video data stream and the set of othercomponent data streams.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 further includinga receiver for receiving a program data stream.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12 wherein the received program data stream is in encryptedformat.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further including a decrypter fordecrypting the encrypted program data stream.
 15. The apparatus of claim12 further including a router for determining if the received programdata stream is a high definition program stream.